Agriculture is a significant part of Utah County’s heritage. As Utah County continues to grow, it will be ever more difficult to provide sources of local food that are sufficient to feed even a fraction of Utah County’s rapidly growing population. The population of Utah County is predicted to double by 2040. Certain fruits and vegetables can only be grown in areas where the microclimate is favorable—in Utah, many of these areas are in Utah County.

Utah County has the land, water, knowledge, and ability to produce local food. However, current trends present some challenges, including the loss of agricultural land and water to residential and commercial development. Food-producing land is currently being developed at a rate that will leave no irrigated land in the future to grow fruit and vegetables. Utah County needs to preserve resources so that agriculture can survive and even thrive. This will require strategic action.

This toolbox contains optional recommendations from the Utah County Agriculture Toolbox Steering Committee to the Utah County Commissioners, the Utah County Planning Commission, the county’s cities, and county residents who hope to sustain and promote agricultural lands, water, and practices.

Strategies for Goal One aim to establish agriculture as a more viable business. The goals are separated into three categories: Opportunities for Farmers and Ranchers; Opportunities for State, County, and Local Governments; and Opportunities for Education and Outreach.

Population growth across the state threatens to consume additional farmland, and water resources are reallocated with every new construction project. Existing farmland can be protected from encroaching development through a variety of means, especially if residents, developers, and lawmakers understand the actual social, economic, and environmental value of agriculture.

There are many ways to preserve and improve agriculture in Utah County, but current laws, attitudes, and conditions across the state and country make it difficult to address certain challenges. This section reviews federal strategies that, though outside the scope of the rest of the toolbox, could benefit Utah County’s agricultural industry in the future.

As more land on the edges of Salt Lake County continues to be developed, a significant amount of growth and development will shift southward into Utah County. Certain crops can only be grown in areas with specific microclimates commonly found in Utah County; however, much of this land is directly in the path of future growth.

Through Envision Utah’s Your Utah, Your Future community surveying and visioning process it became clear that Utahns are very concerned about the state’s agricultural future. In 2007, almost one third of Utahns did not have a strong opinion about farming and ranching. By 2014, however, three quarters of Utahns agreed that farming and ranching are critical to Utah’s future.

There are many programs, grants, and other resources available to Utah County agricultural producers. The above document lists organizations, agencies, and offices working to benefit farmers and ranchers and showcases example programs or grants. This resource is meant to be a jumping-off point for aspiring and existing farmers and ranchers looking to benefit their farm operations; it is not, however, a comprehensive list.